CASE 7: Homicide and the Law in 18th Century China

In China, law evolved as a subset of administrative practice. The basis for the law was the separation of court and state. The imperial court had its own budget and administration separate from the state. Therefore, most legal matters involving tax-paying citizens were handled by the judicial apparatus of the state. Except in capital cases, this apparatus was meant to operate independently of imperial opinion.Let’s have a look at how basic legal concepts evolved during the classical period and medieval/early modern periods.

For a broader perspective on capital case records, check out their GLOBAL CONTEXT.